This workshop offers actors a chance to explore the art of clowning — embracing the absurd, celebrating failure, and discovering the humor in vulnerability.

Participants will learn the foundational principles of clown through both group and individual exercises, exploring what makes them uniquely funny and how to share that joy with an audience. Together, we will practice presence, play, and creative risk-taking, learning to find freedom and fun on stage. No prior performance experience is required.

Please note: This is not circus clowning. We will not be using red noses, juggling, or performing tricks. Instead, the focus is on theatrical clown — exploring authentic humor, connection, and the beauty of imperfection in performance.

The day will conclude with a live, directed work-in-progress clown performance open to sharing and exploration.

Schedule
10:00 AM – 1:00 PM | Workshop
1:00 PM – 2:00 PM | Break
2:00 PM – 3:30 PM | Performance

About the Instructors

Jack and Zoe are American clowns who met while studying at École Philippe Gaulier in France. Together, they create and produce original clown theatre, including A Night of Drama (“Best shows in 2024” — Time Out NY), which has played to sold-out audiences in New York City, London, and at the Edinburgh Fringe, and Dog Funeral (“A hilariously unconventional take on grief” — Cog Journal), performed in London, Ventnor Fringe, and The Berkshires.

Jack and Zoe have also performed with Underbelly at the Edinburgh Fringe, with the London Clown Festival at Soho Theatre, and at The Weekend of Weird at Brighton Fringe.